Become the leader people remember.
Practical, self-paced leadership programs — with coached cohorts and CQUniversity postgraduate credit. Build the human skills AI can't replace.
Trusted by leaders at
Find the right program for where you are
Pick the lane that fits — every program leads to certification or a credential, and most count toward CQUniversity postgraduate credit.
Investing in yourself? Start with our guide for individual leaders → · Developing a team? See team options → · Compare all prices → · Read client stories →
New to leading people
You just got a team, or you're about to. Learn feedback, 1-on-1s and leading without a title.
See Emerging Leader programs →Leading a team
Certified People Leader or Leadership Impact — build capability in strategy, culture and courageous conversations.
See People Leader programs →Developing other leaders
Earn a Certified Leadership Coach credential with a real coaching practicum.
See Coach programs →A woman ready to step up
OWL — our award-winning program for women leaders, including those leading in male-dominated industries. Self-paced or coached.
See OWL programs →Fast-tracking my career
Leadership Accelerator with group coaching, or Future Me — focused on your next role.
See Accelerator →Developing our whole team
Enrol a cohort, or have LeadershipHQ deliver in-house with group coaching.
For Teams & enterprise →Twelve programs. One philosophy.
Earned, not clicked through. Every program is backed by evidence from your own team, not a multiple-choice quiz.
Certified Emerging Leader
For first-time leaders stepping into their first direct reports.
Includes a copy of Sonia’s book Leadership Attitude, posted to you
Certified People Leader
For leaders of teams who want depth in culture and courageous conversations.
Includes Sonia’s Welcome Pack: all three of her books, a journal and a tote bag, posted to you
Certified Leadership Coach
For those who develop other leaders. Includes a real coaching practicum.
Includes Sonia’s Welcome Pack: all three of her books, a journal and a tote bag, posted to you
Leadership Impact
Promoted for being good at the work? Three parts — Leading Self, Leading Others and Leading the Future.
Includes a copy of Sonia’s book Leadership Attitude, posted to you
OWL · Outstanding Women Leaders
Our award-winning program on the ten qualities that get capable women heard — with a 234-page workbook.
Includes Sonia’s Welcome Pack: all three of her books, a journal and a tote bag, posted to you
OWL Coached Cohort
OWL plus a 1-on-1 development plan and fortnightly group coaching.
Includes Sonia’s Welcome Pack: all three of her books, a journal and a tote bag, posted to you
Leadership Accelerator
A 12-week live leadership and career program with Sonia, in a small cohort of 12 to 15.
Includes Sonia’s Welcome Pack: all three of her books, a journal and a tote bag, posted to you
Leadership Essentials
The starting point. Foundations every leader needs, at your own pace.
Includes a copy of Sonia’s book Leadership Attitude, posted to you
First Comes Courage
The course version of Sonia's book. Courage isn't a trait — it's a practice you can train.
Courageous Conversations
Say the hard thing well. A practical method for the conversations most leaders put off.
The Leadership Brain
The neuroscience of leading. Why you and your people react the way you do, and what to do about it.
Certification, credit, or recognition
Every path leads somewhere real — a credential, university credit, or the industry recognition that opens doors.
The Certified pathwayFrom first-time leader to coach
Three stacked certifications — each one earned, not clicked through.
University pathwayCredit toward CQUniversity
Our certified programs count as credit toward CQUniversity postgraduate study.
Award-winningOWL · Outstanding Women Leaders
Running since 2016 and recognised by the Australian Centre for Leadership.
Four reasons leaders pick us
Earned, not clicked through
You prove it with real tasks with your own team, not a quiz. Coaches complete a practicum.
Skills AI can't replace
Built on the Human Leadership Framework: courage, judgement, trust, connection and wisdom.
Award-winning, not theory-winning
Home of OWL, recognised by the ACL, and built from 18 years in real workplaces.
Self-paced or coached
Learn at your pace with lifetime access, or join a coached cohort with fortnightly group coaching.
Want more than self-paced?
Start with a 1-on-1 to build your personal development plan, then work through the program with fortnightly group coaching alongside other leaders.
OWL Coached Cohort
The award-winning OWL program with a dedicated coaching layer, for women ready to step up.
- 1-on-1 development plan session with Sonia
- Five fortnightly group coaching sessions
- The full OWL program and the 10 C's
- A small cohort of women working through it together
Leadership Accelerator
Confidence. Courage. Mindset. Future Me. A 12-week live leadership and career program with Sonia.
- 1-on-1 kickoff with Sonia
- Six fortnightly group coaching sessions
- A small cohort of 12 to 15 leaders
- Built on Future Me Theory
Coaching in your pocket for the moments that matter
Every program comes with three months of Worksparks, the leadership coaching platform built on LeadershipHQ's leadership frameworks. Use it between modules to prepare for a tough conversation, plan feedback or work through a challenge with your team, while the learning is fresh.
- Built on the same frameworks as your program
- Ask it anything, whenever you need it
- 3 months included with every program, worth A$87
Leaders talk, we listen
The Leadership HQ’s Online Self-Paced Program has already added so much value to myself and my fellow division leaders at Lauxes Grates. Sonia has a beautiful way of delivering the content that makes sense to a wide variety of individuals, bringing them together over a common goal: being courageous, kind and authentic leaders.
You created an environment where the group could have open conversations, learn from one another, and feel comfortable contributing. You are an outstanding facilitator, and it was an absolute pleasure having you guide us through the program.
She challenged them, gave them some fantastic tools, and encouraged them to be courageous business leaders. The team were all so energized after the day, that I have booked the entire HR Leadership team for Super Retail Group into an intensive 3 day course.
Sonia McDonald
Sonia has spent 35 years in leadership and HR — from One&Only Hayman Island and Coco Republic to Asia HR Director at Korn Ferry Futurestep — before founding LeadershipHQ in 2008. She's an executive coach, keynote speaker and the author of three books.
She's passionate about women leading in male-dominated industries, and she personally reviews every certification submission.
Want to develop 10 or 100 of your leaders at once?
Enrol a cohort, or have LeadershipHQ deliver any program in-house with group coaching and facilitated sessions. We've worked with more than 100 organisations, including Seymour Whyte, Griffith University, the Queensland Audit Office and State Revenue Office Victoria.
Book a discovery callAnswered before you ask
How do I get a leadership certification online?
Choose one of our three certified programs. Certification is earned, not clicked through — you complete every module, apply what you learn with your team, then submit evidence for review. Every submission is reviewed by Sonia McDonald.
Can a leadership program count toward a university qualification?
Yes. Our certified programs count as credit toward CQUniversity postgraduate study. Book a call and we'll walk you through how the credit applies to your situation.
Are your online leadership courses self-paced?
Yes. Self-paced programs come with lifetime access, so you can learn around your work. If you want more support, our coached cohorts add a 1-on-1 development plan and fortnightly group coaching.
Can my organisation enrol a group of leaders?
Yes. You can enrol a cohort of leaders, or have LeadershipHQ deliver any program in-house with group coaching and facilitated sessions. Book a discovery call to talk it through.
Do you have a leadership program for women?
Yes — OWL (Outstanding Women Leaders), our award-winning program recognised by the Australian Centre for Leadership. You can take it self-paced, or join the OWL Coached Cohort for 1-on-1 and group coaching.
What is Worksparks, and is it included?
Worksparks is our leadership coach, built on LeadershipHQ's leadership frameworks. Every program includes three months of Worksparks, so you can keep practising between modules.
